Somali Aviation Firefighters complete training
Somali firefighters from the Somali Civil Aviation Management (SCAMA) have completed three months of training to boost their skills and ability to respond to emergency situations in Mogadishu and Somalia in general.
The training was facilitated jointly by the United Nations Support Office for AMISOM (UNSOA) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in collaboration with Fire and Emergency Department of the Mogadishu Municipality.
The training is part of an ongoing process aimed at boosting the capacity of Somali aviation firefighting and rescue operations, according to Dorcas Amollo, UNSOA Aviation Manager. The course covered firefighting and emergency operations, search and rescue operations, aircraft extinguishing and rescue operations, among other essential skills.
“We had eight SCAMA firefighters who have undergone training with us for the past three months and this training was theory and practice in fire and rescue at Mogadishu Airport. It is a continuous process because we offer this training very often. We continue to work with SCAMA to ensure that Mogadishu International Airport is safe, in terms of flight operations in the event of any fire incident. We are confident now that both SCAMA firefighters and AMISOM will work hand in hand to ensure that the best fire services are given at Mogadishu Airport,” Ms Amollo said.
Firefighter Abdullahi Hassan Hussein said he would put the skills and knowledge in practice, in service of his country.
“We have been given firefighting training so that we rescue and save people in Aden Ade International Airport.” Mr. Hussein said.
AMISOM aircraft rescue and firefighting instructor Captain Aziz Mustafa added that the training equipped the firefighters to handle any emergency situation that could arise at the airport.
“In a full scale emergency, you receive a call from tower that there is an aircraft registration number this is coming to land but it has a serious problem. Then you get and prepare all your equipment and the team and brief them on what they are supposed to do as soon as that aircraft crash lands with a problem”.
The graduating firefighters were commended for their enthusiasm and commitment by Dr. Silvanos Gwarinda, UNSOA Chief Air Operations Officer who awarded their certificates.
